STILL IN HIS TEENS, this raw racing talent from Assam achieved more than a victory in his overall third place performance at the recent JK Tyre Junior Cup 2008 racing championship in Chennai. Though racing is almost an alien sport for the people in this part of the country, Paragjyoti Borthakur made Assam and the Northeast proud with his stunning performance, coming third overall in just his second contest. Earlier in June 2008 also, he came third in the MMSC Cup, which was not taken seriously by the racing community. And what’s more, Parag was competing alongside much experienced, efficient and older racers who had practised with the required support and facilities.

Just 17 years old, Parag, an eleventh standard commerce student of Baldwin Methodist College, Bangalore caught the attention of racing experts and sponsors alike with his stupendous showing in the Formula Maruti category at the Madras Motor Sports Club race track in Irungattukotai near Chennai on December 27 and 28. What’s amazing and what prompted raising many an eyebrow is that Parag did not have a coach or the facilities required for racing prior to his exploits on those two marvellous days in Chennai. Of the total twelve races, he came second five times and third four times aggregating total prize money of Rs 64,000 (Rs 8,000 for second and Rs 6,000 for third).

Younger of the two sons of Maligaon-based Railway officer Dharani Prasad Barthakur and Jinamoni Borthakur, Parag obtained the formula racing licence issued by the Motor Sports Association of India (MSAI) only last year and could prepare himself just for a couple of months before this final showdown. In fact, his talent, self-confidence and an urge to succeed saw him through in Chennai.

Obviously passionate about motor racing, Parag got attracted to the sport since the age of about five years after watching Formula One racing on DD2 channel around 1995, before becoming an avid racer in video games which helped him immensely to hone his latent talent. Speaking about his initial racing days, Parag says: “It was rather a frustrating beginning as contact addresses for motorsport that I found in Autocar and Overdrive magazines remained practically elusive. Later, with the help, cooperation and encouragement of my parents, brother Dulanjyoti and cousin Zashanka Sharma, I could somehow proceed along before finally being able to convince JK Tyre in sanctioning half sponsorship to compete as a member of the Chennai-based Wallace Sports Club.”

Commenting on his feat, Parag says: “It was a very special moment for me as I didn’t let my sponsors down. And as a reward for my promising showing JK Tyre has offered me full season scholarship for this year’s national level JK Tyre Racing Championship being held at the twin venues of Chennai and Coimbatore from February 14.”

Everyone hopes that Parag blossoms into a world class racer. For that to happen, he needs to be moulded properly by all those close to him, while he himself has to be firm, focused, fearless and humble like any achiever who reaches the zenith of success.

KD Sarma